Improved picket-boat and apparatus for discharging torpedoes



} WOOD & LAY.

Discharging Torpedoes. No. 46,851 Patented Mar; 14,.1865.

I'nve To r STATES IJNITE ATENT Oriana.

WILLIAM W. W. WOOD, U. S. N., OF PHILADELPHIA, IA., AND JOHN L. LAY,

UNITED STATES NAVY, ASSIGNORS TO DONALD MOKAY, OF EAST BOS- TON, MASS.

IMPROVED PlCKET-BOAT AND APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING TORPEDOES.

Specification forming part'of Letters Patent No. 46,5l1. dated March 14,1865.

for the purpose of carrying, submerging, re-

taining, releasing, and exploding torpedoes.

In order to enable others to make and operate with our invention, wewill now proceed to describe the manner of constructing and using thesame.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a side view of the improved apparatus forcarrying and exploding submarine shells or torpedoes; Fig. 2, a planview, and Figs. 3 and at detached views of parts of the apparatus.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

A represents the forward part of a small steamboat of the class known assteamlaunches or picket-boats. To the outside of the boat is secured abracket,B, and to the latter is connected, by means of a universaljoint, a, one end of a long spar,D. Ahalyard, E, is connected to thesparnear the outer end of the same, and passes through a block, b, atthe head of a mast, F, and thence down the drum of a small windlass, G,which is situated on the bottom of the boat immediately behind the mast.On the outer end of the spar D is the socket for holding one shell ortorpedo, the exterior form of which will be best observed on referenceto Figs. 3 and 4.

The socket in the present instance consists of a cast-iron tube, (1, towhich the end of the spar D is secured, the front end of the tube beingformed into a chamber for the reception of the projecting head f of theshell J and for the pin h, by the withdrawal of which the shell isexploded. One end of a wrought-iron plate, I, is secured to the underside of the cast-iron tube (7, and is stayed thereto by the bent bar j.The shell rests on the concave upper surface of the plate I, in which isan opening for receiving the projection is of the shell, and throughthis projection passes a pin, m, the latter thus securing the shell tothe socket.

When the above-described mechanism is not required for use, the spar iscarried alongside the boat in the position shown by red lines, Fig. 2,the socket being adjacent to the stern of the boat. When the apparatushas to be used, the torpedo is placed in the socket, its projecting headoccupying a positionin the chamber 0. (See Fig. 3.) A small lanyard, p,is secured to one of the arms a of the socket, passes across the head fof the torpedo, between lugs q q on the same, through a hole in theother arm, n, of the socket, and thence to the vessel. A short line, t,is connected to the pin m, and attached to the lanyard p in such amanner that on pulling the latter the first result will be thewithdrawal of the pin m from the projection l of the torpedo. A line,20, is also attached to the pin h of the torpedo, and extends to thevessel. After'thcse linrs have been properly disposed of and adjusted,the spar is swung round on its universal joint a, so as to projectbeyond the bows of the boat. The outer end of the spar is then loweredby means of the halyard E and the Windlass G to the required depth andin the desired proximity to the e lemys vessel. The attendant then pullsthe lanyard p, thereby withdrawing the pin m, when the torpedo is atliberty to escape from the socket, which it will do in most caseswithout any further pulling of the lanyard p but in order to insure theescape of the torpedo from the socket it is advisable to continue topull this lanyard, which, owing to its arrangement in respect to thearms n and n of the socket and to the projection f of the torpedo, willforce the latter from th socket.

Immediately after the release of the torpedo, it is the duty of theattendants to immediately lower the outer end of the spar and to backthe vessel as speedily as possible, so that both may be at a safedistance from the torpedo when it is exploded.

On being released the torpedo will, owing to its peculiar internalconstruction, assume the vertical position shown by red lines, Fig. 1,and will rise until it comes in contact with the vessel to be destroyed.The cord m is then pulled, thereby withdrawing the pin h and permittinga weight to fall onto a cap charged with detonate, which ignites thepowder in the shell.

The socket, at the point where the projection 1 of the torpedo passesthrough it, is provided with an inclined plane, as, over which the saidprojection readily slides when the torpedo escapes from the socket.

It may be remarked that the torpedo is of the peculiar constructiondescribed in the specification which accompanied our application for apatent (recently allowed) for submarine shells or torpedoes, and that asimilar shell and apparatus similar to that described above were used indestroying the rebel ram Albemarle'.

If properly managed and manned by welldrilled hands, this boat and itsapparatus can be used in shallow waters on secret nocturnal expeditionsagainst an enemys vessels with destructive effect and with everyprospect of safety to those in charge, the torpedo being such that, ifproperly released and exploded at the right time, and the boat be hackedto a distance of but fifteen or twenty feet from the shell, theexplosion of the latter will not injure the boat or those on board.

We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1.The spar D, connected to a boat and controlled by tackle, substantiallyas described, in combination with the within-described socket, or itsequivalent, for carrying and retainin g a submarine shell or torpedo.

2. The socket composed of the tube (1, its chamber 0, and plate I, thewhole being constructed and arranged for the reception of the torpedo,substantially as set forth.

3. The projection 7c of the torpedo, passing through an opening in theplate I, and the re taining and releasing pin m, and lanyard t, thewhole being arranged and operating substantially as described.

4. The arms a, cords n, of the socket, and lanyard p, arranged inrespect to the projection f of the torpedo, substantially as and for thepurpose set fort In testimony whereof we have signed our names to thisspecification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\/VM. W. W. WOOD. JOHN L. LAY.

Witnesses W. H. FIELD, O. A. JAcKsoN, Jr.

